Cover and container for foodpreserve-container



E. WEISSE Jan. 8, 1957 COVER AND CONTAINER FOR FOOD-PRESERVE-CONTAINER Filed March 9 1950 Im/emw": E RIVEST \A/ELSSE 5W1 AT TO NE Y United States Patent COVER AND CONTATNER FOR FOOD- "PRESERVE-CONTAINER Ernst Weisse, Hannover, Germany Application March 9, 1950,.Serial No. 148,572

:In Germany November 22, 1918 Public "Law .619, .August.23, 1954 Patent expires November 22, 1968 7 Claims. '(Cl. 220-55) This invention relates to an improved canning container of the type comprising a can body, a cover, and a packing or gasket ring or rubber disposed between the can body and the cover. Before .canning,-the cover is fastened to the can body by suitable clamping means. Containers of this type are known but have not proved generally satisfactory for use in the household. In some cases the cover cannot be removed without damaging it. In other cases a valve has been provided in the cover but is either not sufficiently tight or is .diflicult to make. Furthermore, in the .canning containers of this type previously proposed, the canned material tends to spoil very easily because after canning, as the can cools, air enters the container and harmful bacteria frequently develop in the can in spite of boiling.

It ,is the principal object of the invention to provide canning container which avoids the defects and disadvantages of prior devices.

The canning container in accordance with my invention comprises a seamless thin-walled can body of metal having a rolled or U-shaped edge, and a thin-walled metal cover having a rolled or U-shaped edge. The cover is arched upwardly like a hat to define fiat bearing surfaces and has a recessed portion in which is formed a deep opening of frusto-conical cross-section which is closed with a frusto-conical elastic stopper, e. g. a rubber stopper. The cover is also formed to define 21 depending centering ring adjacent the rolled or U-shaped edge which serves to center the cover in the can. The seamless form of the can body prevents the deposition of food residues and bacteria in the can body when it is cleaned after use. In cans with folded seams food residues and bacteria are inevitably retained in the seam. The shape of the cover makes it completely stiff and resistant to deformation. It will not bulge under the action of the air pressure when the can cools off, as do known covers, and hence it no longer changes its fit on the rubber gasket ring which is inserted between the, cover and the rolled edge of the can body. The cone-shaped deep opening in the cover and the fitting rubber stopper have wide contact surfaces and effectively prevent the penetration of air. The hat-like upwardly arched part of the cover and the clamp fastened over the cover prevent the rubber stopper from being inadvertently loosened in handling. The improved container can be used again and again in its original shape because it is not damaged in opening. To open it, the rubber stopper is pulled out of the cover. This permits air to enter the can, and the cover can easily be lifted.

The packing ring for my container advantageously comprises a soft rubber ring about 3.5 mm. thick. Such a ring provides ample support for the cover on the edge of the can body despite unevenness of the surfaces of the cover and can body.

t The container is formed from tin sheet or black-iron sheet or aluminum or an aluminum alloy suitably protected against corrosion. When tin sheet .or black-iron '2 sheet is used the metal surface is advantageously phosphated orjpickled and coated with a pigment-containing base-lacquer and then with a clear finishing lacquer. When aluminum or an aluminum alloy is used, the surface is electrolytically or chemically oxidized and provided with .a coating or lacquer, particularly phenol resin resistant fit.

lacquer, in high dilution, tightly closing its pores. For lacquering there is used a lacquer having a surface tension which is reduced to such an extent that it penetrates into the submicroseopic pores of the oxide layer and closes them. Such a'lacquer layer bonded with the oxide layer will not separate from the metal base and therefore insures a reliable protection of the metal base against direct attack by corrosive substances contained in the food treated. Consequently, I may use an aluminum alloy which is not corrosion-resistant when unprotected by the coating. Alternatively, the container may be formed from iron having 'a shockand corrosion-resistant enamel coating.

The drawings show illustrative embodiments of a canning container according to the'invention.

Fig. l is a sectional view of a portion of the cover of the container showing the stopper in place;

Fig. 2 is asectio'nal view of the upper portion of a canning container'according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the invention; 7

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view'of a portion of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5is a sectional view of the upper portion of another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. -6 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the clamping member shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, the reference numeral 1 designates the sheet metal cover member of the container. Cover 1 has a recessed center portion formed with an aperture 2 of frusto-conical cross-section, portions of the cover extend inwardly to provide the aperture 2 with an elongated throat formation adapted to receive conical stopper 3 with a tight, pressure- Adjacent the recess 2 the cover 1 extends upwardly to define a raised portion 4. The cover 1 has a rolled edge '5 and the edge 5 and the raised portion 4 are connected by a centering ring portion 6 which is adapted to center the cover and insure proper fit in the opening of container body 7. The upper edge of the container body is rolled as shown at 8 and a sealing gasket 9 is disposed between the rolled edges of the cover 1 and body .7. The cover 1 is pressed and held in sealing engagement with the body 7 by means of a clamp or clip member 10 which engages the top surface 4- of cover 1 and the under surfaces of rolled edges 8, as shown in Fig. 3. The clamp or clip member lib is preferably formed from a metal having elastic properties, such as cold rolled steel or an aluminum-copper-magnesium alloy. The expansion of air in the container when it is heated lifts the cover slightly and the excess pressure is released. After the cooking treatment is finished and the container has cooled, the clamp 10 may be removed and the vacuum in the container will insure a tight fit of the cover. On the other hand, when the container is under normal pressure, the clamp 10 efiects a fluid-tight compression of the cover 1 and container body 7 so that the container can be used as a food-container for traveling.

While I have described the container 7 and cover 1 as having rolled edges, these members may be formed with U-shaped edges, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 wherein the cover 4' has a channel-shaped edge 5' in which the gasket 9 is seated. Both the cover 1 and the container '7 may be formed with edges of U-shape cross section but, pref erably, when the cover has a U-shaped edge the body has a rolled edge and vice versa. This permits a sealing action of maximum effectiveness. It will be observed that the flat bearing surfaces of the cover permit the containers to be stacked without interfering with the positioning of the stopper 3 and yet the stopper 3 extends upwardly from the aperture 2 a suflicient distance to permit its easy removal by hand when desired. It will also be observed that the clamp extends across the top of the stopper 3 and thus effectively prevents it from being displaced by the pressure in the container. There is thus provided a canning container avoiding the deficiencies of prior containers of this character and being particularly suitable for use in the home.

I claim:

1. A lightweight vacuum canning container resistant to deformation by internal pressures generated during the preservation by heat of food contained therein, comprising a seamless sheet metal can body formed with a unitary bottom and side wall, and a sheet metal cover therefor, the edges of said body and said cover being of complementary form adapted to compress a resilient gasket therebetween, said cover being formed with a rounded annular depression immediately adjacent the cover edge and extending downwardly into the container body a substantial distance below the body edge and having an annular elevated portion radially inwardly of the annular depression, said elevated portion having a flat crest defining a flat annular bearing surface of substantial radial width lying in a plane above that of the cover edge, said cover further having a recessed portion centrally thereof adjacent said annular elevated portion, the apex of said recessed portion being provided with an aperture of frusto-conical cross-section for flexibly receiving a removable frusto-conical stopper for sealingly closing said aperture before said cover is secured to said can body with said stopper extending through said aperture into the interior of said body portion and extending upwardly from said aperture to a point at most at the level of said annular elevated portion.

2. A light-weight vacuum canning container resistant to deformation by internal pressures generated during the preservation by heat of food contained therein, comprising a seamless sheet metal can body formed with a unitary bottom and side wall, and a sheet metal cover there for, the edges of said body and said cover being of complementary form adapted to compress a resilient gasket therebetween, said cover being formed with a rounded annular depression immediately adjacent the cover edge and extending downwardly into the container body a substantial distance below the body edge and having an annular elevated portion radially inwardly of the annular depression, said elevated portion having a flat crest defining a flatannular bearing surface of substantial radial width lying in a plane above that of the cover edge, said cover further having a recessed portion centrally thereof adjacent said annular elevated portion, the apex of said recessed portion being provided with an aperture of frustoconical cross-section for flexibly receiving a removable frustoconical stopper for sealingly closing said aperture before said cover is secured to said can body with said stopper extending through said aperture into the interior of said body portion and extending upwardly from said aperture to a point at most at the level of said annular elevated portion, and flexible clamping means for holdmentary form adapted to compress a resilient gasket therebetween, said cover being formed with a rounded annular depression immediately adjacent the cover edge and extending downwardly into the container body a substantial distance below the body edge and having an annular elevated portion radially inwardly of the annular depression, said elevated portion being joined to said annular depression by an inwardly tapering wall and having a flat crest defining a fiat annular bearing surface of substantial radial width lying in a plane above that of the cover edge, said cover further having a recessed portion centrally thereof adjacent said annular elevated portion, the apex of said recessed portion being provided with an aperture of frustoconical cross-section for flexibly receiving a removable frustoconical stopper for sealingly closing said aperture before said cover is secured to said can body with said stopper extending through said aperture into the interior of said body portion and extending upwardly from said aperture to a point at most at the level of said annular elevated portion, and flexible clamping means for holding said cover and said body in sealing relationship, said flexible clamping means engaging said cover only on said flat annular bearing surface.

4. A light-weight vacuum canning container resistant to deformation by internal pressures generated during the preservation by heat of food contained therein, comprising a seamless sheet metal can body formed with a unitary bottom and side wall, and a sheet metal cover therefor, the edges of said body and said cover being of outwardly-rolled complementary form adapted to compress a resilient gasket therebetween, said cover being formedwith a rounded annular depression immediately adjacent the cover edge and extending downwardly into the container body a substantial distance below the body edge and having an annular elevated portion radially inwardly of the annular depression, said elevated portion being joined to said annular depression by an inwardly tapering wall and having a flat crest defining a flat annular bearing surface of substantial radial width lying in a plane above that of the cover edge, said cover further. having a recessed portion centrally thereof adjacent said annular elevated portion, the apex of said recessed portion being provided with an aperture of frusto-conical cross-section for flexibly receiving a removable frustoconical stopper for sealingly closing said aperture before said cover is secured to said can body with said stopper extending through said aperture into the interior of said body portion and extending upwardly from said aperture to a point at most at the level of said annular. elevated portion, and flexible clamping means for holding said cover and said body in sealing relationship, said flexible clamping means engaging said cover on said flat annular bearing surface.

5. A light-weight vacuum canning container resistant to deformation by internal pressures generated during the preservation by heat of food contained therein, comprising a seamless sheet metal can body formed with a unitary bottom and side wall, and a sheet metal cover therefor, the edge of said body being outwardly rolled and the edge of said cover being of U-shaped cross-section and adapted to compress a resilient gasket therebetween, said cover being formed with a rounded annular depression immediately adjacent the cover edge and extending downwardly into the container body a substantial distance below the body edge and having an annular elevated portion radially inwardly of the annular depression, said elevated portion being joined to said annular depression by an inwardly tapering walland having a flat crest defining a flat annular bearing surface of substantial radial width lying in a plane above that of the cover edge, said cover further having a recessed portion centrally thereof adjacent said annular elevated portion, the apex-of said recessed portion being provided with. an aperture of frusto-conical cross-section for flexibly receiving a removable frusto-conical stopper for sealingly closing said aperture before said cover is secured to said can body with said stopper extending through said aperture into the interior of said body portion and extending upwardly from said aperture to a point at most at the level of said annular elevated portion, and flexible clamping means for holding said cover and said body in sealing relationship, said flexible clamping means engaging said cover on said flat annular bearing surface.

6. A light-weight vacuum canning container resistant to deformation by internal pressures generated during the preservation by heat of food contained therein, comprising a seamless sheet oxidized aluminum can body formed with a unitary bottom and side wall, and a sheet oxidized aluminum cover therefor, the edges of said body and said cover being of complementary form adapted to compress a resilient gasket therebetween, said cover being formed with a rounded annular depression immediately adjacent the cover edge and extending downwardly into the container body a substantial distance below the body edge and having an annular elevated portion radially in- Wardly of the annular depression, said elevated portion having a flat crest defining a flat annular bearing surface of substantial radial width lying in a plane above that of the cover edge, said cover further having a recessed portion centrally thereof adjacent said annular elevated portion, the apex of said recessed portion being provided with an aperture of frusto-conical cross-section for flexibly receiving a removable frusto-conical stopper for sealingly closing said aperture before said cover is secured to said can body with said stopper extending through said aperture into the interior of said body portion and extending upwardly from said aperture to a point at most at the level of said annular elevated portion, the oxidized aluminum surfaces of the can body being coated with a highly dilute lacquer effective to penetrate the sub-microscopically small pores of the oxidized aluminum surfaces to close said pores, and flexible clamping means for holding said cover and said body in sealing relationship, said flexible clamping means engaging said cover on said flat annular bearing surface.

7. A light-weight vacuum canning container resistant to deformation by internal pressures generated during the preservation by heat of food contained therein, comprising a seamless sheet iron can body formed with a unitary bottom and side wall, and a sheet iron cover therefor, the edges of said body and said cover being of complementary form adapted to compress a resilient gasket therebetween, said cover being formed with a rounded annular depression immediately adjacent the cover edge and extending downwardly into the container body a substantial distance below the body edge and having an annular elevated portion radially inwardly of the annular depression, said elevated portion having a fiat crest defining a fiat annular bearing surface of substantial radial Width lying in a plane above that of the cover edge, said cover further having a recessed portion centrally thereof adjacent said annular elevated portion, the apex of said recessed portion being provided with an aperture of frusto-conical cross-section for flexibly receiving a re movable frusto-conical stopper for sealingly closing said aperture before said cover is secured to said can body with said stopper extending through said aperture into the interior of said body portion and extending upwardly from said aperture to a point at most at the level of said annular elevated portion, the iron surfaces of the can body and cover being phosphated and coated with two lacquer films comprising a ground pigment-containing base coat and a clear surface coat, and flexible clamping means for holding said cover and said body in sealing relationship, said flexible clamping means engaging said cover on said fiat annular bearing surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 186,333 Fowler Jan. 16, 1877 749,074 Martini Jan. 5, 1904 783,608 Buhles Feb. 28, 1905 933,122 Schram Sept. 7, 1909 1,244,496 Hammer Oct. 30, 1917 1,333,761 Lorenz Mar. 16, 1920 1,439,834 Nielsen Dec. 26, 1922 1,890,347 Voss Dec. 6, 1932 2,120,047 Turner lune 7, 1938 2,171,040 Merritt et al Aug. 29, 1939 2,171,545 Edwards et al. Sept. 5, 1939 2,205,708 Zarbrugg June 25, 1940 2,253,023 Fabrics Aug. 19, 1941 2,448,397 Schilling et a1. Aug. 31, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 78,079 Switzerland Oct. 12, 1917 119,763 Great Britain Oct. 17, 1918 5,216 Netherlands Sept. 4, 1920 205,007 Great Britain Oct. 11, 1923 672,209 Germany Feb. 22, 1939 673,295 Germany Mar. 23, 1939 66,692 Switzerland Dec. 31, 1946 

